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Families meet with Branstad over death penalty

The parents of four missing or kidnapped and murdered Iowa children are meeting with Gov. Terry Branstad Monday morning in his office at the statehouse.

The families hope to gain the governor's support for reinstatement of the death penalty.

Noreen Gosch, mother of Johnny Gosch who disappeared in 1982, Drew and Heather Collins, parents of Elizabeth Collins, Andrew Christie, father of Evelyn Miller, and Addonis Hill, father of Donnisha Hill who was kidnapped and murdered in 2006, spoke quietly with each other before the meeting began.

Sen. Kent Sorenson went into the meeting with the families. He is drafting legislation called "capital justice" which would reintroduce the death penalty in limited cases to the state of Iowa.

The parents said they believe Iowa needs to provide get tougher on crimes against children and the death penalty should be available.

"Iowa is one state in the center of Midwest, states touch that touch us -- all have the death penalty," said Noreen Gosch.

"It's almost like Iowa is a safe place to kidnap kids. These people know it," said Drew Collins.

The families want the death penalty reinstated for class AA felonies. They want a life sentence for kidnapping, but death for kidnapping and murder.

Elizabeth Collin's father said she and her cousin Lyric are dead because the killer had no incentive to let them live.

"But if we had the death penalty he could think, 'Well, if I murder them I'm going to get the death penalty so maybe I should let them go," said Drew Collins.

Collins said if the murder happens, then that person will get what they deserve.

"They don't deserve to live -- they don't," said Drew Collins.

Heather Collins said she used to be against the death penalty, but Elizabeth's death changed her mind.

Sorensen said he faces an uphill battle with Democrats in control of the Senate.

"I can go and talk to them, but it's going to take people from Iowa rising up and saying, 'This is what we need,'" said Sorensen.

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